Chapter 35｜Conflict at the Abandoned Stronghold: The First Clash with an Unknown Force

Night had deepened, and mist rolled through the woods like a tide, blurring the view. Li Xing pressed himself against the corner of the wooden hut, Desert Eagle firmly in hand, his gaze sweeping over the gray shadows outside the window.

“Someone's moving,” Zhao Yun whispered, crouched outside with his rifle barrel pointed toward the low-lying wooded area ahead.

Li Yu crouched by the window, his Type 56 semi-automatic rifle trained on a faintly shifting silhouette. His finger lightly touched the trigger. “Footsteps. Three people.”

Zhou Xiaoyu crouched atop another dilapidated roof, his sniper rifle's scope through a broken lens locking onto distant shadows in the woods. “Two routes. One approaching from the west. The other might be circling around to our rear.”

Zhou Yan crouched at the rear of the squad, gripping the hunting dog's leash tightly. He murmured a warning: “Careful. They're likely probing.”

Li Xing scanned the squad. Every pair of eyes was taut as a bowstring. He didn't issue an order, merely gave a subtle wave of his hand, signaling silence. They waited for their chance.

First Probe

Three dark figures moved slowly, clearly attempting to approach the stronghold to assess the situation.

Li Xing pointed at a low wooden hut: “Zhao Yun, you handle frontal suppression. Li Yu, secure the flank. Xiao Yu, continue observing the high ground. Zhou Yan, maintain rear support.”

The team moved in perfect coordination.

Zhao Yun fired first—not at the enemy, but at rocks and dead branches at their feet, creating noise. Two enemies froze instantly, their movements forced apart.

Li Yu followed immediately, his bullets precisely suppressing the enemy flank, temporarily halting the third scout's advance.

Zhou Xiaoyu lay prone at the high vantage point, calmly analyzing every escape route and marking potential ambush points.

Li Xing observed silently, waiting for a tell in the enemy's reaction.

Sure enough, one enemy attempted to circle behind the wooden hut for cover. Moving too hastily, he exposed his upper body.

Sudden Firefight

“Target exposed!” Li Xing barked.

Zhao Yun darted from the flank, firing two shots from his Desert Eagle, forcing the enemy to retreat.

Simultaneously, Li Yu's Type 56 semi-automatic rifle emitted a crisp crack, precisely striking an obstacle and depriving the enemy of cover.

Zhou Xiaoyu aimed from an elevated position at an enemy attempting to leap onto the roof. The bullet grazed his shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

Zhou Yan seized the opportunity to charge from the rear with the hunting dog. The dog's low growl echoed through the woods, forcing the enemy to divide their attention.

In their first real firefight, the enemy quickly realized this squad's combat rhythm and coordination far surpassed ordinary hunters.

Escalating Confrontation

The enemy clearly shifted tactics. Two figures concealed in the western woods rapidly withdrew while initiating long-range suppressive fire from elevated positions, forcing the squad to seek cover.

“Flank suppression!” Li Yu shouted in a low voice.

Zhao Yun immediately leaped from the front cover to another rock, firing two shots in quick succession, forcing an enemy to reveal their position.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Xing led Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhou Yan in a swift high-ground flanking maneuver, pincering the enemy.

Realizing they were surrounded, the enemies began retreating. However, their escape route had been precisely calculated by Li Xing. The team seamlessly forced them toward the wooden hut's entrance, leading to a brief close-quarters clash.

Outcome of the Initial Engagement

After a short yet intense firefight, the enemies were forced back to the outskirts of their stronghold. They slowed their pace, clearly beginning to cautiously probe.

Li Xing lowered his voice: “This is only the first encounter. Remember, the unknown faction is harder to predict than black market hunters. They'll adjust their tactics next time.”

Zhou Xiaoyu nodded slightly: “We can use our observations from earlier to record their tactical preferences.”

Li Yu added: “The system gives no alerts about these people. We have to rely on our own judgment.”

Zhou Yan soothed the hound, murmuring, “It understands too—what lies ahead isn't just a hunting ground, but a world of humans.”

Li Xing lifted his gaze toward the depths of the abandoned stronghold, where shadows seemed to stare back at them. He knew deep down—the real challenge had only just begun.

They had crossed into the unknown force's territory. This time, the life-and-death struggle beyond the hunting grounds was destined to be more brutal than any before.